Steel square



STEEL SQUARE 192.4 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. A. HARRISON June 15 1926.

Filed August 4,

' 1|4 I 113 1|2 l' al1 Ilo 9i 1Ig l 1I1 l 1IO l 1 I9 I5 l I7 l I6 II I5I4 e q I -mmf yJune 15 1926. 1,588,962

H. A. HARRISON STEEL SQUARE Patented June 15, 1926.

Y UNITED lSTATES,

HENRY A.' HARRISON, OF JAMESTOWN, NORTH DAKOTA.

STEEL SQUARE.

Application led August 4, 1924. Serial No. 730,029.

This invention relates to improvements in carpenters squares, and hasfor one of its objects to produce an implement of this character soarranged that it may be used for marking out beams and timbers inconstructing hips, valleys, jack rafters, cuts for sheathing boards,stair risers and treads and the like.

Another objects of the invention is to pro-A vide an implement of thischaracterl including all the ordinary elements of a carpenters squarewith the improved attachments applied, the attachments not interferingwith the ordinary uses of the square.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described andthen pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of thepreferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the imroved steel square, looking at theobverse ace;

Figure 2 is a plan view, enlarged, of one of the gage blocks;`

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the gage block attached to the bladeportion of a square, the latter being in section on the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Figure 4 is a detail illustrating the manner of using the implement forlining out the angles of a piece of Work, for instance a raft-er;

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the manner of using the implement forlining out the angles inthe rafters of a square dome;

Figure 6 is a. detail illustrating the manner of usingthe implement inlining out a supporting joist in stair building;

Figure 7 is a plan view looking at the front face of the square.

The body of the improved implement is in the usual/form of a carpcnterssquare, and compri/ses a blade portion 10 and a tongue portion l11, eachprovided with the usual scales in inches and fractions of inches, orother scales as may be required.

The blade 10 is 24 inches in length and 2 inches in Width and is scaledto represent inches and fractions of inches. The tongue 11 is 16 inchesin length and 111-5 inches in Width, (the thickness of standard raftertim-- bers), and is scaled to represent inches and fractions of inches.The blade is the horizontal measurement for rafter framing, stairstepping and brace framing, and the tongue 1s the verticalheight ininches `per foot run on the blade in laying out the pitch for the roofin roof framing and grace framing and the Width of riser in stairbuilding.

Formed through the tongue portion 11 is a relatively long longitudinallydirected guide slot 12 and a plurality of'sockets 13 spaced at anyrequired distance apart.

Formed through the blade portion 1() is a like slot 14 and a pluralityof sockets 15 spaced apart as shown.

For the purpose of illustration the longer slot 12 in the tongue extendsfrom the sixinch scale line to the eight and one-halfinch scale line,and the sockets 13l each extends between` the nine, ten, eleven, twelve,thirteen, fourteen and fifteen inch scale lines and the respective halfinch scale lines next thereto, as shown. The longitudinal slot 14 of theblade 10 is shown extending from the six inch scale line to the ten andone-half inch scale line, 'While the sockets 15 are shown extending fromthe twelve inch and seventeen inch scale lines and the respective halfinch scale lines next thereto, as shown.

It will be understood that the location and vlengths of the slots, andthe location of the sockets may be varied as required, and I do notwishpto be limited to anyspecific location of the slots and sockets, norto the number employed.

Furnished with each of the; squares constructed as described are aplurality of gage4 blocks, each formed with a head or body portion 16 ofa predetermined Width, for instance one-half inch when employed inassociation With a square having scales of inches and fractions ofinches on its blade and tongue. Each of the gage blocks is formed with alug 17 to closely engage in the sockets 13 and 15 and slidably engagingin the slots12 and 14. Each of the lugs 17 is provided with a threadedaperture to receive a clamp screw' 18, the latter each'm0 having a head19 to bear upon the adjacent face of the blade, or tongue, as the casemay be.

Each gage block extends at the end farthest from the lug 17 -to one edgeof the 105 blade or tongue, as shown.

One o f the gage blocks may thus be associated With one of the sockets13 or 15 and another adjustably associated With the slot 12 or 14 aswill be obvious, and may be thus no changed from one socket to another,or adjusted Within the slots 12 and 14 as required.

The slot. 12 extending from the six inch scale line to the eight andone-half inch scale line on the tongue 11, provides that one side faceof the block 16 may be set to any scale line at or between theseterminallines, for instance for marking the risers in stair' building; and theother block adjusted in the slot 14 which extends from the six inchscale to the ten and one-half inch scale on the blade, to provide forthe adjustment of the block for use in marking stair treads in stairbuilding. It will be understood that the dimensions of the risers andtreads may be varied by changing the relative positions of the gageblocks. In Fig. 6

is illustrated the manner of using the im-F proved implement in layingout the treadA and riser cuts in the supports in stair building. Forinstance, the gage block 16 of the tongue 11 is set at the point tocorrespond to the vertical height of the risers, for instance seveninches, and the gage block 16 of the blade l0 set to correspond to thewidth of the treads or steps, for instance ten inches. Then it is onlynecessary to apply the square, successively or progressively, to theedge of the Stringer timber, a section of which is indicated at 20, asshown in Fig. -6 and marking with a scratch awl or pencil around theelbow or knee of the square, or the art which bears upon the joist, tocorrect y and expeditiously outline the angular sections which are to becut out as indicated by the dotted lines at 21.

One of the sockets 15 is located betweeny the twelve and twelve andone-half inch scale on the blade 10, and is for use in laying out a mainor common rafter, and the other socket 15 is located between theseventeen inch and seventeen and one-half inch scalev lines on theblade, and is for use in marking hip and valley rafters of variouspitches.

The sockets 13 in the tongue are located between scale lines nine, ten,eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen of thel tongue and therespective half-inch scale lines of the same, and are provided formarking the rafters for a required pitch of a roof.

-For instance, as illustrated in Fig. t a section of a rafter isillustrated at 22 with a diagram of the improved square for laying out acommon rafter for a roof having a one-third pitch. Assuming that theWidth of the building is 24 feet and the height of the roof is 8 feet,the gauge block is set at the 12 inch scale on the blade 10 which-represents one-half the width of the building and the other gauge blockis set at the 8 inch scale of the tongue which represents the height ofthe roof. The square is then laid on the timber with ther gauge blocksbearing against the edge of the timber, with the knee or elbow of thesquare pointing away from you, then mark across the rafter with ascratch avv-l or pencil following the front of the tongue whiclrgivesthe outside of plumb mark of the frame, then move the square, startingfrom the upper edge of the plumb mark, keeping it at the same pitch,successively as many times as there are feet in one-half of the Widthofthe building, and at the finish cutout the rafter seat, and you havethe main or common rafter for a roof having a one-third pitch.

In laying off or cutting the timber for the hip and also for the valleyrafters the procedure is the same as that described for the main orcommon rafter'except that the gauge-block for the blade is shifted fromthe 12 inch scale to the recess formed at the 17 inch scale whichrepresents an angle substantially of 45 degrees. The gauge-block on thetongue remaining say at the 8 inch scale adjustment, and following the4method described for the main rafter there is formed the rafter for thehip or the valley for a roof having a one-third pitch.

In forming a main or common rafter and also the hip and the valleyrafter for a roof having say a one-half pitch, the gauge block of thetongue is placed in the socket or recess of the tongue formed at the 12inch scale, and with the gauge block of the blade placed at the 12 inchscale on the blade for the main rafter, or at the 17 inch scale for thehip or the valley rafter, and proceeding in the manner described for theroof with a one-third pitch there is produced the main rafter and alsothe hip and valley rafters for a roofwith a one-half pitch. To producethe rafters for roofs having other pitches the gauge-block of the tongueis adjusted to the scale representing the vertical height of the roofabove the Wall in the rela-tion of one inch on the tongue scale to onefoot run on the blade, and there is produced` the main and the hip andvalley rafters laid out for a roof having the roof pitch correspondingto the number of feet represented by one foot run on the bla-de forwhich the gauge-blocks have been adjusted.

The jacks and cripples for the roof are obtained in the same way. Forinstance, measurevout of many feetof run on the blade as the jack raftercontains linear feet from the corner of the structure; if therebe-sixteen inch centers,'measure out one foot run,

slide the square along edge of the timber into position four inchesmore, which gives the length of the first pair; this added to every pairgives the'length of each pair. The bevel to the hi is the thickness ofthe rafter timber, and t e Width 'of the tongue being the thickness ofthe timber hold the square on the plumb cut,.mark along the inside edgeof the tongue, at end of jack timber rafter, and at the same time markthe plumb 'cut square across, and then square over, and this givls thebevel and the exact length of'the jac It is obvious from the foregoingthat in stair building it is only necessary to adjust one gauge-block inthe elongated slot or recess of the tongue to the scale representing theheight of the riser and the other gaugeblock in the elongated slot orrecess of the blade representing the width of the tread and apply thesquare to the Stringer with the blocks bearing against the edge of thetimber and mark the timber following the edge of the tongue and bladeand around its knee or elbow, and then slide the squarefor lthe nextmarking and so on throughout t-he length of the Stringer for the lengthdesired without scaling each movement of the square. Also that in layingout the main and also the hip and valley rafters for a roof of a givenpitch. it is only necessary to adjust the gauge-block on the tongue tothe scale which in inches represents the number of feet in height of theroof, and adjust the other gauge-block on the blade to the scale whichin inches represents the number of feet in one-half the width of thebuilding, or in the same proportionate relation if the width of thebuilding contains more feet than is represented by the blade scaled 'oneinch to one foot run, then apply the square to the rafter timber withthe blocks bearing against the edge of the timber and the elbow awayfrom you, then mark across the rafter along the front edge of thetongue; then move the square along the rafter timber as many times asthere are feet in one half of the width of the building and mark thetimber along the front edge of the tongue in the final position of thesquare, and take out your rafter seat. This gives ou the main or commonrafter for a roof aving a itch corresponding to the proportion whic thescale of the location of the gauge-block on the ton ue bears to one footrun on the blade; that 1s, if the gauge-block be at the 8 inch scale onthe tongue the roof will have one-third pitch, and if it be at the 12inch scale it will have one-half pitch, and so on according as thegauge-block may be positioned. For the hip and valley rafters thegauge-block of the blade will be positioned in the socket or recess atthel inch scale of the blade without any change in the location of thegauge-block of the tongue, with the result that you get the lay out ofthe hip and also 'of the valley rafter for a roof having the same pitch.The results stated are gained without calculations and scalin necessaryin the use of a steel square of or inary formation.

It will be obvious that the rafters for any required pitch may bequickly marked by adjusting the blocks to kthe appropriate sockets andslots.

In Figs. 1 and 7 geometrical Figures 28 and 29 are' shown outlined onthe square, as a matter of information.

In Fig. 45 the manner of lining out the rafters for a square dome isillustrated.

An outline or flat diagram for a dome is first drawn to a scale, withthe curved hip rafters represented conventionally at 23 and the spacedrafters at 24, and the curvatures of the dome indicated at 25. raftersare shown terminating at the curved lines. Then by applying the improvedirnplement to the curved lines and to the lines indicating the spacedrafters at their respective junctures as illustrated, the gage blockscan be set to enable the correct angles to be scribed.

The various adjustments of the blocksy 16 The spaced enables theoperator to lay out any dimen-y sion or angle required.

It is to be understood that changes may be made for various positions ofadjustment; of the gauge-blocks on the blade and on the tongue, and alsoin the means or manner of securing the blocks in their proper positionsfor the various manipulations described without departing from theessential features of the invention as sought to be defined in theappended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits what I claimis 1. A square having a blade and a tongue scaled to inches andfractions of inches, the blade representing .horizontal measurementshaving formed therein an elongated recess extending between the 6 and 10inch scale divisions, and the tongue representing vertical height havingformed therein an elongated recess extending between the 6 and 8 inchscale divisions, the blade. and vtongue each formed with additionalrecesses in alinement with the elongated recess of the member, andgauge-blocks adjustable in the recesses of the blade and tongue to thescale 'representing the horizontal measurement and scale representingthe vertical height, respectively, for the treads and risers for steps.l

2. A` square having -a blade scaled in inches and fractions of inchesrepresenting horizontal measurements and a tongue scaled in inches andfractions of inches representing vertical height measurements, the bladeand the tongue each having an elongated recess between certain scaledivisions and the bladerwith an independent recess between its elongatedrecess and end of the blade, spaced from and in alinement with theelongated recess, and the tongue formed with a plurality of independentrecesses between its elongated recess and end of the tongue and inalinement withthe elongated recess, and gauge-blocks, one of said gaugeblocks to fit to the recess inthe blade and the other to fit either theelon.-A gated recess or a selected independent recess auf of the tongueto obtain the proper marking of a common rafter or jack rafter for aroof having a given pitch.

3. A square having a blade scaled in inches and fractions of inchesrepresenting horizontal measurements and a tongue scaled in inches andfractions of inches representing height measurements, the blade and thetongue each having an elongated recess be tween certain scale divisionsand with an independent recess between its elongated recess and end ofthe blade and in alinement with the elongated recess for use in hip andvalley rafter lay-outs, and the tongue formed with a plurality ofrecesses between its elongated recess and end of the tongue in alinementwith one another and the elongated recess, and gauge-blocks, one of saidgage blocks to fit to the recess in the blade and the other to liteither the elongated recess or a selected recess of the tongue to obtainthe proper marking of either a valley or hip rafter for a roof having agiven pitch.

4. A square having a blade scaled in inches and fractions of inchesrepresenting horizontal measurements and a tongue scaled in inches andfractions of inches representing height measurements, the blade and thetongue each having an elongated recess between certain scale divisionsfor conjoint use in laying out stair stringers with tread and riser cutsof a predetermined selection, and the blade and tongue provided eachwith certain other recesses in alinement with one another and theelongated recess for conjoint use in laying out main and hip and valleyrafters and jack rafters in a structurel having a roof of apredetermined itch, and gaugeblocks for co-operation with the elongatedrecesses and selected recesses of the blade and tongue for the lay-outdesired, said gauge blocks each having a stud for sliding movement inthe elongated vrecesses and proportioned to lit snugly in the selectedsmaller recesses.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

HENRY A. HARRISON.

